Israel-Palestinian Violence Divides Democrats

A Muslim worshipper takes part in Friday prayers at the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, Friday, May 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

On Thursday, death tolls showed more than 100 people have died in Gaza and seven in Israel due to the exchange of rockets that have been fired at Israeli military targets and civilians by Hamas out of Gaza. The continued conflict between Israel and Hamas has been testing Joe Biden and further exposing the Democrats’ divide on Israel.

Statements released from Democrat lawmakers reinforced the idea that the party continues to have multiple leaders that defend Israel including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez.

A statement tweeted by Menendez wrote, “the barrage of rocket attacks from Hamas are terrorism and no country should have to tolerate this kind of threat against its population.”

House Democrats took to the Chamber on Thursday to voice their support for Israel as clashes erupted for a fourth night. Some Democrat lawmakers also cited Israel’s efforts to minimize civilian deaths and the U.S. alliance with the country as reasons for their support.

Republican lawmakers have criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar’s recent anti-Israel comments. She has since used this criticism in ads to fundraise for her campaign.

Democrat mayoral hopeful Andrew Yang tweeted, “the people of New York City will continue to stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel who face down terrorism and persevere,” but he later went back on his support after he received major criticism from progressive Democrats.

The division comes as a record from the Jewish Voting Library which showed roughly 75 percent of Jewish people voted for Biden. However, Democrats’ anti-Israel rhetoric could result in a loss of support from members of the Jewish community within the U.S.